Created by Friends of Derrick Wood In honor of Black History Month 2025, Mayor Derrick Wood of Dumfries, Virginia sits down with Garnell Bates, a 97-year-old resident and the eldest living member of the Bates Family—believed to be the oldest free Black family in the area. In this powerful oral history interview, Mr. Bates shares […]

By Mayor Derrick R. Wood What if the next big thing in Dumfries didn’t come from outside developers, or distant decisions—but from you? What if Main Street came alive again—not someday, but soon? What if Quantico Creek became a place where your family could walk, relax, and celebrate what makes this town home? What if […]